Past Events

The High Renaissance & King’s Chapel Glass

This tour, led by Nicholas Chrimes, will look at the glass as a lens into the Renaissance and Tudor Society, covering aspects from art, Protestant prejudice, ladies’ court fashion down to outright prejudice against women.

The Two Libraries of Jesus College

Our visit will start with the modern Quincentennial Library: a great contrast with the Old Library, where scholars had to cope with lack of heat and light to read books which were fewer in number but far more valuable. Some of the rarest books will be on display for the visit. The tour will be led by Peter Glazebrook, Emeritus Fellow Jesus College.

Museum Tours for Friends

Tuesday 12 February 11.00am or 2.00pm;Upper Floor Galleries

Thursday 14 February 11.00am or 2.00pm;Ground Floor Galleries

We are offering two introductory tours to the Galleries, one upstairs (for Paintings & Sculpture), and one downstairs (for Antiquities, Ceramics, etc) with alternative times. Friends are welcome to book for either or both tours

Organiser Marr Grieve
Tours are free and for Friends only.

Behind the Scenes: African Characteristics in Ancient Egypt

Monday 4 March at 10.30am or 2.00pm

Access will be via the Rear (Goods) Entrance, ten minutes before the start.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

Wednesday 6 March 2013

We shall leave Madingley Park and Ride at 8.15, have coffee on arrival at about 10.30 and then, in groups of 15, have a guided tour of the highlights of the Museum’s collection, which will last for about 1 1/2 hours

Dr Vicky Avery, Keeper of Applied Arts, has kindly offered to talk to Friends about the rationale behind the recent re-hanging of Galleries 1 & 5, and describe in detail a few of the objects in them.

Places: 20 on each day
Tickets: £15Friends only

Walthamstow, William Morris Gallery

Thursday 18 October

The newly refurbished William Morris Gallery, which has undergone a £5m restoration, is the only public gallery devoted to the Victorian designer, craftsman and social campaigner.The Gallery reopened in 2012, and the outstanding collection of textiles, wallpapers, ceramics, glass, furniture, stained glass, books and fine art will be on display.

Places 30
Tickets: £23.00 by ballot on 1 OctoberFriends only

The nature of study at Jesus College

Thursday 11 and Thursday 18 OctoberTours starting 2.00pm

Pray at King’s, dine at Trinity, study at Jesus - and stool at Magdalene. Such was James 1st’s assessment of these colleges’ merits after his visit in 1615. To test some of this summary Friends are invited to Jesus where a Fellow will share some of its special places, amongst them its library, combination room, hall, the St Radegund nunnery’s C12th chapter house and chapel.

Places 16 on each tour: tour duration 1 1/2hrs
Tickets: £16.50, by ballot on 14 September Friends only

Splendid Cambridge Staircases

Wednesday 26 September & Tuesday 9 OctoberTours starting 2.00pm

Cambridge has a fascinating variety of staircases from the apogee of High Victorian interior decor seen at the Fitzwilliam Museum, the subdued elegance of Wren at the Trinity Library, to the inspiration for Hogwarts staircases at the Judge Institute.

Places 16 on each tour: tour duration 2 & a bit hrs.
Tickets: £16.50 by ballot on 10 SeptemberFriends only

Victorian College Gardens

Thursday 16 August and Thursday 6 September 2.00pm

The fascinating variety of college gardens is almost equal to the variety of college architectures. In contrast to the monastic gardens of Emmanuel and the pleasure gardens of King’s and Clare, other colleges have fine gardens representing the late nineteenth century. Amongst the best examples are those of Selwyn and Robinson which we will visit on Thursday 16th August and Thursday 6th September. Meeting at Robinson College main entrance, the visit will last about 2 hours. It will end with tea in the King’s Fellows’ garden, another Victorian creation.

Behind the Scenes: A Viewing of Indian and Persian Miniatures

Tuesday 24 July 10.30am and 2.00pm

David Scrase, Keeper of Paintings, Drawings & Prints, has kindly agreed to show us a number of items from the collection that come out of storage only rarely for display; they will be a selection of Indian and Persian Miniatures.

Lamport Hall & Gardens

Tuesday 10 July

Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire has been the Isham family home for over four centuries. Developed from a Tudor manor, its remarkable classical frontage, started in 1655 by John Webb, was completed in the eighteenth century by Francis Smith of Warwick. The Gardens, originally laid out in 1655 by Gilbert Clark, were substantially developed in the 1820’s by Mary Isham and later her son.

Transport, tour of the House, and the Garden, refreshments on arrival, lunch and afternoon tea are included in the ticket price.

Places: 46
Tickets: £45
Organiser: Jane Dix

Clare, Suffolk

Wednesday 4 July

A visit to this old, interesting town, nestling in the Stour Valley, with its Country Park, 13th century Priory, 15th century Ancient House (now the museum) and a great Gothic Wool Church. Clare, referred to in the Domesday Book, has a rich history; it is much loved by its residents.

The Search for Immortality:

Tomb Treasures of Han China - Evening in the Museum

Thursday 14 June 6.00 – 8.00pm

A private view for Friends and their guests. This exceptional exhibition, re-creating two Han Dynasty tombs, will be introduced to us by its Curator, Dr James Lin, who will then answer questions informally Access is via the Courtyard Entrance from 6.00pm, with a glass of wine or soft drink in exchange for your ticket on arrival; a cash bar will remain thereafter.

Tickets: £15 per person
Organiser: Marr Grieve

History of Art Department: Wednesday

Lunch time talks by research students

2 May • Andrew Chen, 'The architecture of Domenico Veneziano - an Annunciation from the St. Lucy altarpiece.

Visit to the Murray Edwards Art Collection

Thursday 24 May and Wednesday 27 June – 2.30pm

The Murray Edwards Art Collection, consists solely of work by women artists, in an all female Cambridge college. Friends will be given a tour by the Administrator of the Collection, Sarah Greaves, and will be able to visit the wonderful gardens which act as a backdrop for several of the works of art. Tea will be served at the end of the visit.

Places: 16 on each tour. Friends only
Tickets: £16 50 by ballot on April 30th
Organiser: Gillian Harrison

Deene Park, Northamptonshire

Thursday 26 April 2012

We shall enjoy a Tour of the House, a Tour with the Head Gardener (1.5 hours each) and a visit to the Church.

Refreshments on arrival, lunch and afternoon tea are included in the ticket price.

Private View • Cheffins Fine Art Auction

Tuesday 20 March 2012, 6.00pm until 8.00pm

This is a very special and exclusive opportunity to attend a Private Sale Preview of the March Country House and Fine Art Sale.

Cheffins' experts will be available to discuss some of the pieces, and there will be a short talk about a few of the more interesting lots. Catalogues for the sale are included in the ticket price, as are wine and canapes.

The saleroom is situated on Clifton Road, just off Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge.

British Library, London

Thursday 1 March 2012

The British Library’s exhibition, Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination, brings together the Library's collection of manuscripts collected by English Sovereigns between the 9th and 16th centuries. We have organised a visit to the Library, which includes timed entry to the Exhibition plus a guided tour, in small groups. There will also be time to visit the library building and other exhibitions, to have refreshments/lunch in one of the Library’s cafes, and to visit the shop.

Visit to Magdalene College and the Pepys Library

Thursday 9th February 2012 • 2.00pm
Thursday 1st March 2012 • 2.00pm

Friends will be able to visit the Library with the 3,000 volumes which Pepys considered sufficient to contain the sum of worthwhile knowledge. We will visit the Chapel and end the tour with tea at the Master’s Lodge by kind invitation of the Master and Mrs Robinson.

Places: 16 on each tour. Friends only
Tickets: £16.50 by ballot on 13th January 2012
Organiser: Gillian Harrison

Museum Tours for Friends

Friends are welcome to book for either or both tours, which will each take about 1 1/2 hours; groups will be small (10-12) and be guided by Friends who are familiar with the contents.
Meet at the Founder's Entrance 10 mins before the start of each tour.

The talks are free and for Friends only. Tickets on application with an SAE to the Friends’ Office
Meet in Courtyard Entrance.

Places: 12
Organiser: Sue Rasmussen

Real Tennis

Thursday 26 January 2012 • Thursday 23 February 2012 • both at 2.00pm

This game was the dominant sport at the university - and the first by centuries to breach its monastic culture – from the time of the early Tudors to the early C19th. The game's mysteries will be unravelled during a half-hour talk by Nicholas Chrimes in the clubroom of the University’s Real Tennis Club. This will be followed by tea and an exhibition doubles match played by members of the current Blues team.
The tour will last approx. 11/2 hours.

Medieval & Renaissance Galleries, V&A Museum

Tuesday 29 November 2011

The Medieval & Renaissance Galleries are home to one of the world's most remarkable collections of period
treasures. Ranging from delicately carved ivories and intricate metalwork to Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and
powerful sculptures, they tell the story of European art and culture from 300– 1600. A private walking tour of the
galleries, led by a V&A historian will last for one and a half hours.
There will be two groups of 24 and the tours will finish at 12.30 approx. Lunch may be bought in the Café. There will be
some free time before the coach departs at 3.00pm.

History of Art Faculty Talks

Following the success of the lunchtime talks earlier this year, three more talks have been planned for this 'term'. These informal talks are given by PhD students from the Faculty and take place either in the Graham Room or in front of the objects that are under discussion. Places are limited and should be applied for through Penny Cleobury at the Friends' office.

All talks are for Friends only and run from 1-2pm.
Organiser: Sue Rasmussen

The Parker Library and William Wilkins – a Cambridge Tour

Wednesday 9 or 16 November 2011, 2:00pm

Ancient manuscripts at Corpus Christi College, which reach back to the very foundations of our Anglo-Saxon
culture, will be shown to Friends during a tour of this immensely significant library started by the Tudor
Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker.
The visit will not pay homage to Parker alone. The architect of this library in the early 1800s, William
Wilkins, designed the whole of New Court - as well as much of Downing College and the National Gallery.
Friends will be shown the Wilkins Chapel and his burial place and then walk past the Wilkins' screen and through
the Great Hall at King’s on their way to tea at the Provost’s Lodge.

Places: 16 on each tour. Friends only
Tickets: £16.50

Gilded Youth – a Cambridge Tour

Wednesday 19 or 26 October 2011

Between Jesus Lane, Sidney Street and Park Street lie
three examples of the outstanding privileges which are
still laid before the modern scholar.
The Union Building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse in
the 1860s, has a debating chamber which is a replica of
the House of Commons in a heavy hint as to the destiny
expected of the university’s best scholars.
The Pitt is an exclusive social club, membership a mere
£40pa though more funds are required to cover ‘dress,
damages and drink’.
The Hawks Club serves the fleet of foot and those gifted
with exceptional hand-eye coordination.
Nicholas Chrimes will lead a tour through all three clubs.

Places: 15 Friends only
Tickets: £16.50

The Hamilton Kerr Institute, Whittlesford

Thursday 20th October 2011, 10:30 – 12:30

We are delighted to be able to offer this very special opportunity to visit the Hamilton Kerr Institute with an
introduction from the Director, Rupert Featherstone.
The Institute is a department of the Fitzwilliam Museum which provides conservation services for the Museum
and also for the Royal Collection, the National Trust and other collections open to the public.

Places: 24 Friends only
Tickets: £20 (of which £5 is a donation to the Institute)

The National Horseracing Museum – Newmarket

Thursday 13 October 2011

Situated in the heart of Newmarket this is the only full time museum in England devoted to the sport of horseracing. The building housed the Subscription
Rooms, the centre for betting men in the 19th Century. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the history
and future of the museum, with an introductory talk by the Director of the museum, Mr Christopher Garibaldi.
Coffee (after the tour) and lunch (at Palace House) are included

The morning will finish, after lunch, at 2pm approx.
A map of Newmarket to include parking information and
the itinerary will be sent out with the tickets.

Places: 30 Guests welcome
Tickets £25.00

Vermeers’s Women – Evening in the Museum

Thursday 6 October 2011, 6.00 – 8.00pm

A private view for Friends and their guests of this major exhibition, the day after it opens: there are not many
Vermeers and they don`t usually visit Cambridge! The Curator, Betsy Wieseman of the National Gallery, will
give an introduction to the exhibition before we look at it and will answer questions in the Mellon Gallery while
we do.

Access is via the Courtyard Entrance from 6.00pm, with a glass of wine or soft drink in exchange for your ticket
on arrival: a cash bar will remain thereafter.

Guests welcome
Tickets: £15 per person

Behind the scenes: an Introduction to the Coin Collection

Monday 3 October 2011, 10:30am or 2.00pm

The Museum has one of the finest coin collections in the country, covering ancient, medieval and modern coins.
Dr Popescu & Dr Allen have kindly agreed to give us an insight into it on a Monday, when the Museum is closed
to the public. Numbers are limited since the Department is small and full of interest: do look at the coins & medals
on display in the Galleries before coming!

Places: 12 for each session Friends only
Tickets: £10

College Trees

The university and its colleges have spared no effort to
undermine the claim that Cambridgeshire is the most treeless
county in England! Many stupendous members of the plant
kingdom grow hidden in corners of college gardens. Many are
not only beautiful, but also help track the development of the
university itself.

This tour of college trees will start at Jesus College, pass on to
Emmanuel, then Clare and finish at King's Fellows’ gardens. The
tour will last about two hours and a cup of tea will be offered
in the Edwardian summerhouse in the Fellows’ Garden at the
end.

Sculpture in the Close, Jesus College

Monday 8th August 5.30pm – 7.00pm

Dr Rod Mengham, Fellow of Jesus and curator of the 2011
exhibition of modern sculpture at Jesus College, will lead this
special tour for Friends. The exhibition will feature the work
of Barry Flanagan and six other artists who taught him or who
were his contemporaries at Central St Martin's: Anthony Caro,
Phillip King, Bruce McLean, Tim Scott, Wendy Taylor and William
Tucker. It will be the first major show to commemorate
Flanagan since his death in 2009. The tour will also include
some exhibits from the College’s permanent collection.

TEA on TUESDAY

Tuesdays 3rd May, 7th June & 5th July

We invite you to come to the Friends’ Room on the first
Tuesday of May, June and July to meet other Friends, have a chat
and have a tea or coffee. A member of the committee will be
there to greet you, share information with you and answer any
questions you may have. We are trying this as an experiment
for three months but will hope to extend it if Friends enjoy the
idea.

Don’t know where the Friends’ Room is?
Come to the Courtyard entrance, climb the stairs and enter
the Friends’ Room, through the glass door on the right.
We shall look forward to seeing you there!

Highlights of the Museum's European Bronzes (1450-1950)

Monday 20 June 2011 at 10.30am or 2.00pm

The Museum houses a splendid collection of small bronzes.
Dr Victoria Avery, Keeper of Applied Arts, will give us a private
conducted tour of its highlights, on a Monday when the
Museum is closed to the public.

15 places on each tour.
Tickets: £10

History of Art Faculty: Post-Grad Talks

Wednesday 4th May 2011 and
Wednesday 1st June 2011
from 1.00 to 2.00 pm in the Graham-Robertson Room

Wednesday 4th May
Imma Ramos will talk about Indian Miniatures

Wednesday 1st June
Louise Hardiman will talk about Catherine the Great’s prints in
the Houghton Hall Collection

Talks are free.

Penshurst Place and Gardens

Tuesday 28th June 2011

Penshurst Place lies in the rural Weald of Kent. The magnificent medieval hall, the heart of the house, was built in 1341. In 1552
it was gifted by Edward VI to the Sidney family, and has been
their home ever since. One of the grandest and best preserved
manor houses in England, with a fine collection of portraits,
furniture, porcelain, tapestries and armour and a largely
unaltered Tudor garden.

King's College Glass

Wednesday 20th July, 2.00pm
Saturday 23rd July, 2.00pm

The stained glass artists who were commissioned, over thirty years from 1515, to fill King's Chapel with coloured light were
the very best in early sixteenth century Europe, and their work
has never been surpassed in this country.

Tim Brown, an acknowledged expert on the glass, will interpret
the religious stories, during a tour lasting an hour and a half.
The tour will be even more interesting if Friends bring a pair of
binoculars.

There will be tea in the Provost’s Lodge after the tour.
16 people on each tour.

Tickets: £15.00 (covering all college entrance fees) by ballot by
May 20th

Summer Drinks with Optional Evensong

King’s College on Tuesday 5th July 2011, 6pm–8pm

Friends are invited to come and enjoy a glass of wine and light
refreshments in the Provost's Garden and Lodge.

Tickets: £16.50
Friends would be very welcome to attend Choral Evensong
in King’s College Chapel beforehand, at 5.30pm and special
seating will be reserved.

Saffron Walden and the Fry Art Gallery

Thursday 19th May 2011, 9.15–1.00 pm

This is a guided tour of the town, followed by a private visit
to the Fry Art Gallery. We shall have a talk about the special
exhibition of watercolours by Eric Ravilious and will view
the permanent display of prints, pictures and paintings. The
gallery has a unique collection of work by local artists living in
and around Great Bardfield 1930 - 1970 and subsequently in
Saffron Walden.

Kelmscott and Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire

Thursday 5th May 2011

We have organised a day’s visit to the village of Kelmscott, and Kelmscott Manor, the home of William Morris. The Manor is a
limestone farmhouse built around 1600, with an outstanding
collection of furniture, textiles, carpets, ceramics, metalwork
and paintings associated with Morris and the Arts and Crafts
Movement.

We will be most fortunate to have the company of Barley
Roscoe, a specialist on the Arts and Crafts Movement, who has kindly agreed to come with us and take us round the village. Please note: Journey time is about three hours each way and access to the attic is via a ladder stair.